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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04-11-2009 08:21:14
Posts: 172, Visits: 1.402 |
| Hi Guys,
As a newbie I would appreciate any advice regarding installation of the game software.
Do I install each game available at my Cafe on each Client PC or just once on the Server PC?
From reading other topics on the SL Forums I'm starting to think I need to install each game on each Client and then create a mini-image of each game and store that on the Server PC. Then I add the licenses into License Management. ??
Do some people create an entire image of the games and store them on the Server PC? If so, does this create too much of a time delay when trying to mount on the client after the customer has clicked the button to launch the app?
If someone could just give me a basic rundown on the steps to install their software that would be great. I've read the "how to add a game to smartlaunch" article provided by SL but they made no mention of where the software actually resides (that I could see).
Anyway, thanks in advance,
Michael Kavanagh
Michael Kavanagh
CafeOz Internet
Australia
Server: Smartlaunch 4.1.319 - Windows Server 2003 (SP2)
Administrator: Smartlaunch 4.1.316 - Windows XP Professional (SP2)
Client: Smartlaunch 4.1.315 - Windows XP Professional (SP2)
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| | | Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 26-03-2007 02:14:57
Posts: 23, Visits: 49 |
| Michael,
Unfortunatly, that's exactly what you have to do 
You may not have to create the CD-Images, it depends on the game. When you install a game, try to run it without the CD in the drive. If it asks for the CD, you have 2 options. The first is downloading a NO-CD patch for the game. While this works well, you run into the problem of patching your games, then you lose the no-cd patch.
The second is to use software to make a CD-Image and load the image from the network.
If that's the case, you have 2 inexpensive options. First, get a network storage drive. They cost $300-$400 for 250GB.
The second is to get a cheap linux box and setup Samba.
The last option is expensive, and thats a Windows Server OS.
If you know for a fact that you will have less than 10 concurrent connections to your network share, than you can use Windows XP Pro to do your file sharing. There are some tricks to make this happen, but they all are tuff to implement. If your not too computer savvy, the network drive is the fastest, cheapest, and easiest.
If you need more flexibility, then Linux/Samba is the way to go.
I would not recommend, under any circumstances getting a Windows Server OS. They are expensive, unsecure, and unstable!
Hope this helps,
Eric |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04-11-2009 08:21:14
Posts: 172, Visits: 1.402 |
| Thanks for your reply Eric.
I was starting to think only the tough questions were answered in this forum. :-)
Regards,
Michael Kavanagh
Michael Kavanagh
CafeOz Internet
Australia
Server: Smartlaunch 4.1.319 - Windows Server 2003 (SP2)
Administrator: Smartlaunch 4.1.316 - Windows XP Professional (SP2)
Client: Smartlaunch 4.1.315 - Windows XP Professional (SP2)
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12-04-2006 20:31:16
Posts: 8, Visits: 108 |
| | Hey Everyone! Quick question that falls into step with Michael's... Do you have to install the CD-Images and CD-Keys on the server machine? Or can you install the CD-Images and CD-Keys on each client machine so it doesn't have to call through the network? If you can install the Images and Keys on each client machine, does this mean that the License Management will not know which computer is using which Key? Thanks in advance! Mike H. EDIT: Also, If I did get a Network HD like this one, would it help me avoid the NT/Server 2003 needs of 10 or more connections per folder? In otherwords, does this HD support more than 10 connections per folder unlike XP? Thanks again! |
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| | | Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 26-03-2007 02:14:57
Posts: 23, Visits: 49 |
| Mike-
If you were to get the WD Network drive, yes, you would have an unlimited number of connections to the drive.
Second, when you put the CD Images on the Network Drive, and Daemon tools mounts it, it does not transfer the whole image over the network, there is actually very little traffic.
Hope this helps!
Eric |
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 07-04-2007 06:11:03
Posts: 392, Visits: 601 |
| | I think you need clarification on one point. The cd-keys have nothing to do with cd images. The cds you get with games are exactly the same no matter what key you got. All your keys should be in SL's licensing feature, which will take care of all of it. |
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